Rose plant named ‘4900’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant named ‘4900’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; dark green-colored leaflets; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; large double pink-colored flowers; flowers held upright on strong and erect peduncles; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Rosa hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘4900’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant, botanically known as Rosa hybrida, commercially used as a potted Rose, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘4900’.

The new Rose is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Fåborg, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new uniform potted Rose varieties with novel and attractive flower colors, disease resistance and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new cultivar originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Feb. 10, 2004 of a proprietary Rose selection identified as code number A27, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed Rose selection, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar 4900 was discovered and selected by the Inventor on Jan. 1, 2005 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Fåborg, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rose by cuttings at Fåborg, Denmark since Nov. 10, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Rose are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘4900’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘4900’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaflets.     -   3. Freely branching growth habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large double pink-colored flowers.     -   6. Flowers held upright on strong and erect peduncles.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Rose differ from plants of the parent selections in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose and the parent selections differ in         plant habit.     -   2. Plants of the new Rose and the parent selections differ in         flower color.

Plants of the new Rose can be compared to plants of the Rose cultivar Evera 122, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 11/700,607. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Fåborg, Denmark, plants of the new Rose differed from plants of the cultivar Evera 122 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose were larger than plants of the         cultivar Evera 122.     -   2. Plants of the new Rose had larger flowers with more petals         than plants of the cultivar Evera 122.     -   3. Plants of the new Rose had fewer stamens and more pistils per         flower than plants of the cultivar Evera 122.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Rose, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately described the colors of the new Rose.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘4900’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘4900’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Rose has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat will variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in Fåborg, Denmark, in a glass-covered greenhouse and under commercial production practices. Plants were pinched one time and were about 12 to 14 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 22° C., night temperatures averaged 21° C. and light levels were about 20,000 lux. Three cuttings were grown in 12-cm containers. Plants used in the description represent a single plant. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida cultivar 4900 -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Rosa hybrida identified as code number A27, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Rosa hybrida,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten to twelve days at 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four weeks at             24° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, medium thickness; white             in color:         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Upright and rounded plant habit.         -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous. Freely branching habit;             about three to five lateral branches develop from the pinch;             dense and bushy growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 26 cm to 30 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 20 cm to 28 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 20 cm to 28 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close             to 146B. Thorns: Density: None to about two per linear cm.             Shape: Triangular with sharp acuminate apices. Height: About             3 mm to 5 mm. Diameter, at base: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Color,             immature: Close to 163D. Color, mature: Close to 167D. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; compound with three to five leaflets             per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 9 cm to 12 cm.         -   Terminal leaflet length.—About 4.5 cm to 5.5 cm.         -   Lateral leaflet length.—About 2.5 cm to 4.5 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 8 cm to 9.5 cm.         -   Terminal leaflet width.—About 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm.         -   Lateral leaflet width.—About 1.5 cm to 3 cm.         -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acuminate.         -   Leaflet base.—Obtuse.         -   Leaflet margin.—Biserrulate.         -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing and fully expanded leaflets, upper             surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 146A to 146B.             Developing and fully expanded leaflets, lower surface: Close             to 147B tinted with close to 59A; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Leaf petiole length: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Leaflet             petiole length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Leaf petiole diameter:             About 1 mm. Leaflet petiole diameter: About 1 mm. Leaf             petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous; rough.             Leaflet petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Leaf and leaflet petiole color, upper surface:             Close to 146B tinted with close to 59A. Leaf and leaflet             petiole color, lower surface: Close to 146B.         -   Stipules.—Quantity: Two per leaf. Length: About 1 cm to             1.2 cm. Width: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acuminate. Base: Truncate; sessile. Margin: Unevenly             serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; leathery. Color, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Color, lower surface: Close to 137B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Large double pink-colored flowers             with numerous petals. Consistently symmetrical rosette             flowers. Flowers borne slightly on erect and strong             peduncles; one terminal flower per lateral branch. Flowers             persistent.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions,             optimal flowering from spring through autumn under garden             conditions; flowering intermittent. Plants being flowering             about 78 days after planting.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 3 cm to 3.5 cm.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—About two weeks.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds (at stage of showing color).—Shape: Ovoid.             Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm to 1.2 cm. Color:             Between 144A to 144B and 137C.         -   Petals.—Quantity: Numerous; about 90 per flower arranged in             numerous whorls. Length: About 2.5 cm to 4 cm. Width: About             2.5 cm to 5 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex: Rounded and             cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 62A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 65A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to             68B; with development, color becoming closer to 54D. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 65A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five. Length: About             2.5 cm to 3 cm. Width: About 6 mm to 8 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply pointed. Base: Truncate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; leathery. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Between 146B and 191A. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 143A. Fully expanded, upper surface:             Darker than 191A. Fully expanded, lower surface: Close to             146A to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Strength: Strong; flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect.             Length: About 2.5 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture:             Rough. Color: Darker than 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About ten per             flower. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Reniform.             Anther color: Close to 17C. Filament color: Close to 154D.             Pollen amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity: About 70             per flower. Pistil length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Stigma color:             Close to 3D. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to             2D. Receptacle shape: Cup to funnel-shaped. Receptacle             height: About 5 mm to 6 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 8 mm.             Receptacle texture: Smooth, glabrous. Receptacle color:             Darker than 144A. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit production has             not been observed. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Rose have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Roses. 

1. A new and distinct Rose plant named ‘4900’ as illustrated and described. 